Art Journaling Made Easy: Simple Composition, Tips & Techniques

Looking for a simple yet effective way to kickstart your creative journey in art journaling? I'll show you how to create a visually appealing art journal page using simple composition techniques, along with some tips and tricks for beginners.

Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, this idea is sure to inspire your creativity.

 - - - - - 💙 - - - - -

How it began with the aperture & mask

This art journal page was all about getting over white space fear and having somewhere to start but also in easy steps that are achievable. 

• Take a scrap piece of A4 paper and roughly tear a circle from the centre - this does not need to be perfect. I am going to do two pages at once but you could just do one by using this technique. I will explain as if you are doing one page - I hope that' okay?

Idea #1: using aperture

• Use the piece of paper with the torn circle aperture and place over your journal page. With your chosen inks, just ink inside that circle. This is now your starting point to work outwards for your page.

• Take your chosen stencils and add soft stencil detailing around the inked circle. Use the same colour as this will help diguise any hard ink lines from the step above.

• Now take your chosen stamps and stamp your main design either side of the circle at a slight diagonal. This now means you have covered your complete page. Finish by adding any imagery or emphemera pieces. Quotes can always be added much later because sometimes it is hard to chose one straight away.

Idea #2: using torn circle

• For this page we are going to work  the opposite way round! Place the torn circle in the centre of your art journal page and ink around the edges. Try and ink in both a circular motion and also broad sweeps outwards. This leaves an open space in the middle.

• Next, take your stencils and stencil around the edge in the same colour. To create length to the design, stencil using the outward braod sweeps as your guide. Chose another stencil and a complimentary colour and stencil again trying to only enter the circle in small amounts. Very quickly you have both extended and added to the circle.

• Next stamp with your chosen main stamp to one side only of the circle. My default is always to stamp to the left but go with what works for you and how you would naturally create.

• Now using smaller "filler" stamps, stamp around your inky circle. This does not have to join up but go with what your eye likes. Finally add any extra imagery and quotes - again personal preference.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - - 

Combing the ideas for a double page layout

• The instructions above shared how to do one page at a time, however if you feel confident, try doing both at the same time. Why? It means both pages then flow when your book is open. This is personal preference as not all art journal pages have to match each other and can look quite cool if there is a contrast.

• To make both cohesive if doing this technique, use the same stamps on both pages and also the same finishing touches ie: emphera, tickets etc

• Now there is debate whether you need to use the same "sort of " quotes but actually look at the page and decide what you want to say - if they don't match or follow the same theme, no biggie. It's your pages and your designs, simple as that.

 - - - - - 💙 - - - - -

Need more visual explanations?

I have created a YouTube video showing both the techniques described above if you would like more visual descriptions. Click on the photo below to be taken straight to it.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

I hope this post shows you how to overcome that 'blank page' fear and find a starting point for your art journal pages. Whether you choose to use the aperture, the mask, or a combination of both, remember that these techniques are a perfect way to build your creative confidence.

Until next time, take care,

Lou

xxx